Elizabeth Kaziunas, University of Michigan
Mark Ackerman, University of Michigan
Tiffany Veinot, University of Michigan

Sunday, 3:30pm

Summary

Based on interviews with people who had diabetes, high blood pressure, and
kidney disease in Flint, Michigan, we found people actively doing information
work to manage their health in the face of poverty, potentially violent
conditions, high stress, and a distrust of institutionalized medicine. More
specifically, we observed people translating information into the context of
their everyday lives. We present various translations of health information in
the form of local strategies for chronic illness management. Study findings
highlight initial implications to support health information services on a
community level.